Police identify two killed in car

Dog killed in shooting

MIAMI - Police are searching for whoever shot and killed two men and a dog during a drive-by shooting in Miami's Liberty City neighborhood Friday morning.

According to police, about 1:15 a.m., officers responded to the area of Northwest 13th Avenue and 41st Street after receiving a 911 call that shots were heard in the area.

Officers arrived and found two men -- Joshua Whack, 25, and Eric Fussell, 23, -- and a dog had been shot. The car, a Buick Lacrosse parked at 4102 NW 13th Avenue, was riddled with bullet holes.

"I was in bed and I heard three shots," said Ruthie Way. "I heard, 'Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!'"

Way said she then saw her neighbors inside the car.

"Lifeless. Lifeless," she said.

"They moved in about three months ago," said Joe Chandler. "Nice guy, gentleman."

The wounded dog was taken by Miami-Dade Animal Services for medical attention, but was put down because its injuries were too extensive, according to MDAS.

"We don't know what took place or who was inside that car," said Officer Kenia Reyes with the Miami Police Department. "What we can say is that this car has been completely riddled with bullets and inside it, two young males died."

The car was towed to the Medical Examiner's office for forensic testing.

Investigators believe an organized gang responsible for several murders in South Florida in the past year targeted Whack and Fussell.

Both Whack and Fussell had extensive criminal backgrounds. Whack had been charged several times since 2004, including cocaine possession, battery, armed robbery, and fleeing police. Since 2009, Fussell had been charged with gambling, possession of marijuana, and trespassing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami police.

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